Water supply valve and soap dispenser arrangement for automatic clothes-washing machines



p 26, 1950 T. T. WOODSON v 2,523,801

WATER SUPPLY VALVE AND SOAP DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMATICCLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES 3 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1947 vIfie'nbo Q T homas T. Woodson,

His Aov'neg.

Sept, 26, 1950 T. 'r. WOODSON 2,523,801

WATER SUPPLY VALVE AND SOAP DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMATICCLOTHES-WASHING mcnmns Filed April 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 54 a: IInventor:

:9 Thomas T )(/'oo :\so1'\ 4 36 T. T. WOODSON 2,52 ,801 WATER SUPPLYVALVE AND SOAP DISPENSER ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMATIC CLOTHES-WASHINGMACHINES Filed April 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l'nvenbo'n" T homag T.Woods 01 1 His Attorney.

Patented Sept. 26, 1950 PENSER ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTO- MATICCLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES Thomas T. Woodson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignorto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application April5, 1947, Serial No. 739,680

. 16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to automatic clothes washing machineswherein automatic means, including valve mechanism, is provided forcontrolling the supply of water for the several washing operations,regulating the temperature of the water and, at the correct point in thecycle of operations, effecting the introduction of soap or the like intothe machine.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved water supply valveand soap dispenser arrangement which is relatively simple in structure,requires a minimum of conduit or piping, and is capable of beingprovided at low cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide a valve mechanism andconduit structure which is built as a unit to be attached to themachine.

A further object is to provide in connection with a unitary valve andconduit structure an improved soap dispenser located directly adjacentto the valve mechanism and positioned to have water discharged into itdirectly from one of the water conduits.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following specification.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and myinvention,attention is directed to the following specification and to the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes washingmachine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machinewith parts broken away for purposes of illustration; Fig. 3 is a topplan view on a scale larger than that of Fig. 2, with parts broken awayto further illustrate the construction; Fig. 4 is a 'detail sectionalview of a coverv taken on line l-4, Fig. 2, the central portion of thestructure bein broken away; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the upperportion of a clothes washing machine detail views, Fig. being a sectiontaken on line I I!-II1, Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken online I II I of Fig. 12 showing a modification; Fig. 12 is a top planview of the structure of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on 2line I3I3, Fig. 11; and Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line I4-I4,Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates an outer casing rectangular incross section provided with an inturned flange 2 at its top edge. Insidecasing I is around tub 3 having an integral outturned flange 4 at itsupper edge which is shaped to conform to the contour of casing I andwhich at its edge rests on top of flange 2 and is attached to it byspaced screws 5. Positioned on casing I and tub 3 is a covercomprisingan outer member 6 which is rectangular to conform with casing I and aninner member I which is circular to conform to tub 3. Cover members 6and I are attached together to form a unitary structure by spaced screws8 which extend through inner member I and an intumed flange 9 on member6 (see Fig. 4). Between the two members is a gasket Ill formed fromrubber or other sultablegasket material. Inturned flange 9 defines arectangular opening II in outer cover member 6. Inner cover member I hasat its outer edge a downturned flange I2 the inner edge of whichprojects within the confines of the rim of tub 3. Fixed to the rim oftub 3 is a gasket I3, U-shaped in cross section. Flange I2 is wedgeddown tightly in gasket I3 to hold the cover in place and to provide awater-tight joint. The cover is correctly located on casing I by a dowelpin I4 (Fig. 6) carried by the cover which enters an opening in theflange 4. It is held vertically with respect to theflange by a series ofspaced lugs I5 which are carried by the cover and rest on top of flange4. Cover member I projects inward beyond the edge of opening II and isprovided at its inner edge with an intumed flange I6 which defines anopening I! for introduction of clothes into the machine. Openings II andI! are closed by a rectangular lid I8 which at one edge is pivoted tocover member 6, as shown at I9 in Fig. 4. The cover member I within theconfines of opening I I has an opening 20 beneath which is attached asoap box 2|. The soap box (Figs. 3 and 6) is of generally trapezoidalshape, has an open top, a downwardly and outwardly sloping bottom wall22 and an outturned flange 23 at its rim which is fastened to theunderside of cover member I by bolts 24 (see Fig. 3), there being asuitable sealing gasket between the flange and the cover member. In oneend wall of the soap box is a discharge opening 25, the contour of whichis best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The corners of the soap box aresmoothly rounded and at the central portion of the bottom radially outeredge is an admission opening 26 over which is an angularly positionedshield 21 formed from a hat piece of suitable metal. The shield definesa water admission chamber triangular in cross section and open at itstwo ends and serves to hold the soap away from opening 26. At itscentral portion, shield 21 is provided with an opening 28 over which isa cover tongue 36 as shown best in Fig. 10. Lid l8 covers both openingl1 and opening 26. When the lid is open, clothes may be placed in themachine through opening l1 and soap powder or the like may be placed inthe soap box through opening 24.

For use in supplying water to the machine and for cooperation with thesoap box for flushing the soap from it to the machine, I provide aunitary valve and pipe structure, shown in perspective in Fig. 7. Itcomprises a valve casing 3| having on one side a hot water supply nipple32 and a cold water supply nipple 33. Nipples 32 and 33 are threaded andmay have connected to them either a hose or a rigid pipe. In the valvecasing are two valves controlled by electromagnets 34 and 36,respectively, which may be energized and de-energized for opening andclosing the valves. The valve controlled by electromagnet 34 when openedpermits warm water. for example water of a temperature of the order of100 F., to be discharged through a discharge passage 36 (see Fig. 8) inthe valve casing. The

valve controlled by electromagnet 36 permits hot water, for examplewater of a temperature of the order of 130 F., to be discharged througha discharge passage 31. The desired water temperatures may be obtainedby means of suitable thermostatically controlled mixing valves in thevalve casing in advance of the valves controlled by the electromagnets.The specific mixing valve structure forms no part of my presentinvention and has not been illustrated. Such valve structures are known.Any suitable type and arrangement may be used. The side of the valvecasing opposite nipples 32 and 33 is formed as a fiat surface 32a.Discharge passages 36 and 31 terminate in the valve at this surface.Attached to the flat surface of the valve casing is a bracket anddischarge pipe structure comprising a bracket plate 38 fastened to theflat surface 32a by studs 39, a bracket plate 40 adapted to be attachedto the wall of tub 3 and warm and hot water pipes 4| and 42. Bracketplates 38 and 40 are joined at their lower edges by a bottom wall 43.Pipes 4| and 42 extend loosely through openings in plate 38. Theyproject through and are rigidly fastened to the plate 40 by suitablemeans such as welding or soldering. Each has a flange positioned beneathplate 38 (Fig. 8) and a surrounding projection positioned in a recess 44in the flat surface. Between the ends of the projections and the bottomsof recesses 44 are suitable sealing gaskets 45. When studs 39 aretightened, the pipe ends are drawn into sealing engagement with the fiatsurface by bracket plate 38.

The unitary valve and pipe structure is attached to tub 3 by screws 46(see Figs. 3 and 6) which extend through the tub wall and thread intoopenings in bracket plate 40. Pipes 4| and 42 extend through openings intub 3. The arrangement is such that when: the structure is attached totub 3 pipe 4| is positioned to discharge downwardly toward the bottom oftub 3 through its side discharge opening 41, Fig. 5, and

pipe 42 is positioned to discharge through admission opening 26 intowater admission chamber 28.

My improved water supply valve and soap dispenser arrangement may beused in connection with 'any suitable washing machine construction. Inthe present instance, it is shown as being used in connection with awashing machine wherein the washing operation is performed in a basket48 by means of a known type of agitator 49. The water is removed fromthe clothes by spinning the basket 48. In casing 56 is a suitablemechanism for operating the agitator for washing, basket 48 being thenstationary, and for spinning the basket and agitator as a unit forextracting water from the clothes. It may be a mechanism, for example,such as that disclosed in my application Serial No. 551,096, filedAugust 25, 1944 and assigned to the same asignee as the instantapplication. At 5| is a motor driven circulating pump which dischargesthrough a nozzle 52 onto a suitable filter ring 53. The circulating pumpmay be operated during all or part of the washing period to filter thewater. At 54 is a motor driven drain pump for use in emptying the tub.

, In the use of my invention, the lid I8 is opened, the clothes placedin spin basket 48 through opening l1, and a suitable supply of soappowder or the like placed in soap box 2| through opening 20. The shield21 serves to keep the soap powder out of chamber 28 and away fromopening 26. The lid is then closed after which the washing cycle isstarted. At the proper point in the cycle, water is supplied by thevalve mechanism through pipe 42 to chamber 28 of the soap box. Thiswater strikes against shield 21, Fig. 6, and is directed by the shieldin each direction toward the ends of the soap box. The water is thusforced to circulate throughout the soap box and through dischargeopening 25 into the tub 3, and quickly carries the soap powder out withit. In addition to discharging from the openings at the two ends ofshield 21, water also strikes cover tongue 30 and is discharged in alldirections from beneath it. This assists materially in washing the soappowder from the soap box.

In'Figs. 11 to 14 is shown a modification of the invention wherein thewater supply pipes 6|! and 6| corresponding to pipes 4| and 42 of Figs.1 to 10, inclusive, instead of projecting up to and into the tub and thesoap box are arranged to discharge to the tub and to the soap box acrossan air gap of suitable length, the arrangement being such as to precludethe possibility of water backing up in the machine in a way such as tobe drawn or syphoned back into the water supply line. To this end, thepipe 60 is provided with a discharge nozzle 62 which discharges acrossan air gap 63 to a vertical conduit 64 formed by a wall 65 attached tothe outside of the tub and communicating with the inside of the tub atits lower end through a passage 66. The upper end of conduit 64 isspaced below nozzle 62 to provide an air gap 63 of substantial length.The upper end of conduit 64 defines the top level to which water canbuild up normally in the tub, thus assuring the level cannot reachnozzle 62; and should conduit 64 become plugged water can no longer fiowthrough it to build up the level in the tub. Similarly, the pipe 6| isprovided with a discharge nozzle 61 which discharges across an air gap68 to the soap box 69, the top of the tub being provided with a curvedlip 10 and the soap box being provided with a lip II for guiding thewater to the soap box. The water enters the soap box through the openingI? and across this opening is an angularly positioned shield 13corresponding to the shield 21 of Figs. 1 to 10. The shield is providedwith an opening 14 over which is positioned a cover tongue 15corresponding'to the cover tongue as shown particularly in Fig. 10. Inthe present instance, the tongue 15 is arranged at a slight angle to theplane of shield 13, as shown particularly in Fig. 14, so that the end ofthe cover tongue 15 nearer the discharge opening 16 of the soap box(Fig. 12') is spaced a greater distance from shield 13 than is the otherend of the tongue. By this arrangement, the major portion of the waterstriking the cover tongue is directed directly toward the outlet opening16 of the soap box, while a lesser amount is discharged in the oppositedirection. The major jet discharged directly toward the opening 16produces an aspirator action with the discharge opening which is ofbenefit in quickly scavenging the soap powder from the soap box.

The unitary valve structure in this modification is carried by an anglebracket 11 attached to the outside of the tub as shown particularly inFig. 12. 7

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be noted that the curved lip H ispositioned lower than the curved lip 10, an arrangement which preventsleakage of water through the space between the adjacent ends of the lipswhen the spin basket is rotated to centrifugally extract water fromclothes in the basket. When the basket is rotating, air is drawn intothe machine around the lid l8 and is thrown radially outward by thecentrifugal pumping action of the rotating basket. Some water is carriedalong with the air. Such water and air as strikes the underside of lip His guided outwardly and downwardly by the lip, the water being directeddown into the tub and air escaping through the space between theadjacent edges of the lips.

Located inside the tub 3 at the lower edge of passage 66 is a radiallyinwardly extending baffle 18 which forms a continuation of the lowercurved bottom 19 of conduit 64 and serves to direct water inwardlyaround and across the bottom of basket 48 to break dowmor kill sudswhich may have accumulated around the basket during the washingoperation. Such an accumulation is known as suds-lock and may put a dragon the spin basket, interfering with its starting and getting up torotational speed. Bafile 18 may be fastened in position in any suitablemanner. For example as shown in Fig. 11, it may be fastened by thescrews used to fasten wall 65 in place. Nozzle G2 is shaped todistribute an unbroken stream -of water against the curved bottom wall18 so that to effect suds kill a spray of water having substantial forcemay be directed by baffle 18 to the region around and below basket 48.

Other than above-described, the construction shown in Figs. 11 to 14 maybe similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 10 and corresponding referencecharacters have been applied to corresponding parts.

The use of a unitary valve and pipe structure, as shown in perspectivein Fig. 7 and as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 has the advantage that it maybe attached to and detached from the machine as a unit, it being heldonly by the screws 46. Thus, in assembling the machine, there are nopipe con nections to be made. The construction effects a saving in bothinitial first cost and in assembly cost. Also, it provides aconstruction which can be easily replaced in case repairs are needed.

The location of the soap box on the underside of the cover is ofadvantage in that it ensoap box from the top of the machine whenever thelid I8 is open. This is a handy arrangement from the users standpoint,and provides neat appearance.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening through which clothes may be placed in the machine, a soap boxhaving a water inlet opening and a water discharge opening attached tothe underside of the cover, said cover having an opening through whichsoap may be placed in the soap box, lid means for closing said openings,and a unitary valve and pipe structure attached to the outside of thetub for supplying water thereto having discharge pipes projectingthrough openings in the tub, one of said pipes discharging directly tothe tub and another discharging through said soap box water inletopening.

2. In a lothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening, a soap box attached to the cover beneath said opening, saidsoap box having an inlet opening midway between its ends and a dischargeopening at one end, and a unitary valve and pipe structure for supplyingwater to the machine having discharge pipes one of which dischargesdirectly to the tub and another which discharges into said soap boxinlet opening.

3. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening, a soap box attached to the cover beneath said opening, saidsoap box having an inlet opening midway between its ends and a dischargeopening at one end, and a unitary valve and pipe structure for supplyingwater to the machine comprising a valve casing having supply nipples anddischarge passages, said passages terminating at one face of the casing,a bracket having a bracket plate attached to said face and a bracketplate attached to a wall of the machine, and pipes carried by saidbracket connected with said discharge passages, one pipe discharging tothe tub and another to said soap box inlet opening.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening through which clothes may be placed in the machine, arectangular soap box disposed beneath said cover, said box having awater inlet opening at its central portion, a. shield over the inletopening, within said box, said shield defining with said box anopenended passage communicating with the interior thereof, and a waterdischarge opening, said cover having an opening through which soap maybe placed in the soap box, lidmeans for closing said openings, and aunitary valve and pipe structure attached to the outside of the tub forsupplying water thereto having discharge pipes, one of which dischargesdirectly to the tuband another through said soap box water inlet openingagainst the underside of said shield for distribution thereby withinsaid box.

5. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening, a soap box attached to the cover beneath said opening, saidsoap box having a water inlet opening midway between its ends and awater discharge opening at one end, and a shield in the soap box overthe inlet opening for directing water through said box from the inletopening to the discharge opening.

6. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening, a soap box attached to the cover beneath said opening, saidsoap box having a water inlet opening midway between its ends, a waterdischarge opening at one end and a shield in the box over the inletopening, said shield providing openings communicating with the interiorof said box, a unitary valve and pipe structure for supplying water tothe machine comprising a valve casing having supply nipples anddischarge passages, said passages terminating at one face of the casing,a bracket having a bracket plate attached to said face and a bracketplate attached to a. wall of the machine, and pipes carried by saidbracket connected with said discharge passages, one pipe dischargingdirectly to the tub and another to said soap box inlet opening againstsaid shield for the deflection of the water thereby through said box.

'7. A unitary water supply valve and pipe structure for use with awashing machine or the like comprising a valve casing, a plurality ofvalves in the casing, inlet conduits on the admission sides of saidvalves, walls defining discharge passages in the casing which terminateat a face wall of the casing, a bracket having a bracket plate attachedto said face wall and a second bracket plate for attachment to asupport, and pipes carried by said bracket having inlet endscommunicating with said discharge passages and outlet ends projectingbeyond said bracket plates.

8. A unitary water supply valve and pipe structure for use with awashing machine or the like comprising a valve casing, a plurality ofvalvesin the casing, inlet conduits on the admission sides of saidvalves, walls defining discharge passages in the casing which terminateat a face wall of the casing, a bracket,pipes carried by said brackethaving inlet ends communicating with said discharge passages and outletends projecting beyond said bracket, and means for clamping the bracketand pipe ends to said face wall.

9. A unitary water supply valve and pipe structure for use'with awashing machine or the like comprising a valve casing, a plurality ofvalves in the casing, inlet conduits on the admission sides of saidvalves, walls defining discharge passages in the casing which terminateat a face ,wall of the casing, a bracket having a bracket plate attachedto said face wall and a second bracket plate for attachment to asupport, pipes carried by said second bracket plate having inlet endswhich project through openings in the first bracket plate andcommunicate with said discharge passages and outlet ends projectingbeyond said second bracket plate, and flanges on the pipe ends locatedbetween said first bracket plate and said face wall for clamping thepipe ends to the valve casing.

10. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub havingv anopening, a soap box attached to the cover beneath said opening, saidsoap box having a water inlet opening and a discharge opening, and aunitary valve and pipe structure attached to the outside of said tub forsupplying water to the machine comprising a discharge nozzle the end ofwhich is positioned outside of the tub in spaced relation thereto, saidtub having an opening through which the nozzle discharges water to thesoap box inlet opening.

11. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a, soap box supported withinthe confines of the tub, said soap box having a water inlet opening andan outlet opening communicating with said tub, and a water valvestructure attached to the tub on the outside thereof having a waterdischarge nozzle the discharge end of which is located outside the tubin spaced relation to the tub to provide an air gap of substantiallength between the discharge end of the nozzle and the wall of the tub,the wall of the tub having a passage through which water may dischargeacross said air gap to the soap box water inlet opening for flow withinsaid soap box and eventual discharge into said tub.

12. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening through which clothes may be placed in the machine, a soap boxhaving a water inlet opening and a water discharge opening attached tothe underside of the cover, said cover having an opening through whichsoap may be placed in the soap box, lid means'for closing said openings,and a unitary valve and pipe structure attached to the outside of thetub for supplying water thereto having discharge pipes the dischargeends of which are located outside the tub in spaced relation to the tubto provide air gaps, one pipe discharging across its air gap to the soapbox water inlet opening and another across its air gap to the tub.

13. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a cover for the tub having anopening through which clothes may be placed in the machine, a soap boxhaving a water inlet opening and a water discharge opening attached tothe underside or the cover, said cover having an opening through whichsoap may be placed in the soap box, lid means for closing said openings,and a unitary valve and pipe structure attached to the outside of thetub for supplying water thereto having discharge pipes the dischargeends of which are located outside the tub in spaced relation to the tubto provide air gaps, one pipe discharging'across its air gap to the soapbox water inlet opening and means defining a conduit on the outer sideof the tub wall connected at its lower'end to the interior of the tubthrough which the other pipe discharges across its air gap to the tub.

14., In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a water valve structureattached to the tub on the outside thereof having a water dischargenozzle the discharge end of whichis located outside the tub, and meansdefining a conduit which extends along the outer side of the tub wallhaving its upper end spaced from the discharge end of said nozzle toform an air gap and its lower end connected to the interior of the tubfor conveying water from the nozzle to the tub.

15. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a spin basket in the tub, awater valve structure attached to the tub on the outside thereof havinga water discharge nozzle the discharge end of which is located outsidethe tub, means defining a conduit which extends along the outer side ofthe tub wall having its upper end spaced from the discharge end of saidnozzle to form an air gap and its lower end connected to the interior ofthe tub for conveying water from the nozzle to the tub, and a baflle fordirecting water from the conduit to the region beneath and around thespin basket.

16. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, a soap THOMAS T. WOODSON.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,770 Wilson July 21, 19082,154,566 Frantz Apr. 18, 1939 2,228,914 Pierce Jan. 14, 1941 m2,289,515 Mathews July 14, 1942 2,295,888 Buckneli Sept. 15, 19422,323,993 Harvey July 13, 1943

